Council approves Cedar Links park plan

A$1 million proposal for a park on the former Cedar Links golf course site got the green light Thursday from the Medford City Council.

By DAMIAN MANN

A$1 million proposal for a park on the former Cedar Links golf course site got the green light Thursday from the Medford City Council.

The 5.5-acre green belt along Cedar Links Road in east Medford would have a looping trail system that meanders through trees and open areas.

Councilor Dick Gordon said, based on public comments, it was difficult for the city to create a plan for the park that would make everyone happy.

"There were people who did not want it for children," he said. "There were others who wanted a playground and things for kids."

Still others were concerned about the restroom being near a residential area, and some worried the park would attract transients, Gordon said.

The Medford Parks and Recreation Department will look at grants to help fund the project, but the park will likely be constructed during the 2015-17 budget cycle.

Cedar Links Golf Course, which opened in 1972, closed its remaining nine holes last year. The owners of the golf course had planned to create a large residential development and did develop a portion of the course before the Great Recession brought the project to a standstill.

The city purchased a 5.5-acre piece of the golf course in 2011 to create the park. The park will be situated at the west end of the former golf course, adjacent to Cedar Links Drive.

The master plan for the park includes playground equipment and a balance log as well as two half-court basketball areas. Much of the interior of the park on the west side will be a large open play area.

The plan also calls for maintaining existing healthy trees and keeping existing grades. Many of the features of the previous golf course would be preserved in the plan.

On the east side of the park, surrounded by trees, will be a small dog run with a fence and entry gates, along with a water station.

An asphalt golf cart pathway with benches would be incorporated into the design.

The plan calls for a lighting system as well as a parking area. A restroom and covered picnic area are also included in the design.